Page 89 of Four Aunties and a Wedding

“If you happen to know anyone who needs a wedding photographer...” she says.

My smile disappears.

“Too soon to joke about it?”

“Way too soon.” Nevertheless, something close to a smile passes between us, and when she leaves, she takes a piece of my heart with her. Just a small piece, though.

When I get back to the table, Big Aunt is grilling Nathan about what he thinks of their outfits.

“You really like or not?” she says, her mouth half full of bacon. What is it with Chinese-Indos and our inability to refrain from talking while we chew our food?

“Yeah, it’s very... authentic.”

Big Aunt nods primly at Second Aunt, who bends over and picks up a package from under her chair. She stands and presents it to Nathan as solemnly as the queen bestowing a Fabergé egg on one of her subjects. “Present for honeymoon.”

“You didn’t have to,” Nathan says.

Big Aunt waves him off. “You say no tea ceremony, so we not get to give you red packet. Ya sudah, we do like white people, give you present, not money, okay?”

“Here one for you also,” Ma says, giving me an identical package. “You open.”

“Now?” I say. Foolish. Of course now. With some trepidation, I take off the wrapper carefully. Nathan just rips his apart.I didn’t think our eyes could go any wider, but when we finally open our boxes, they turn into perfect circles.

Because inside is—

“Wow,” Nathan says, holding up a traditional Indonesian-style shirt. But instead of the typical batik cloth, it’s been made out of Burberry check print. Or rather, the front sports the trademark Burberry tan check, while the back is made of an elaborate batik cloth. I swear it practically blinds me. I hold mine up. “This is very... interesting,” he ventures in a tone of mild horror.

“Wow, a Burberry qipao,” I add, holding mine a safe distance away from me and reminding myself to keep the grin on my face.

“They look—uh, they look very, uh...” Nathan says, “traditional?”

“Yes, exactly!” Big Aunt says happily. “You see, is symbolize marriage between English and Chinese-Indonesian.”

Annie and Chris, along with the rest of the restaurant, are openly gaping at the awful creations.

“This must’ve cost you so much money,” Nathan says.

“Aduh, Meddy, you forget something inside box!” Ma cries.

“I did?” I pick up the box and, sure enough, there’s something else inside. I pull it out and immediately all of the tension leaves my body. Next to me, I sense Nathan relaxing too. There’s no question that we’ll not only keep the hideous outfits, but also wear them and have a ton of photos taken in them.

Because in my hands is a tiny, identical tunic. One that would fit a baby.

“Oh, Ma,” I whisper, and give Ma a tight hug. “You nutty, lovable woman,” I mutter into her hair.

“Thank you,” Nathan says, giving my mother and aunts a hug. “We love the gifts. Butpleasedon’t get us anything else.”

“Hang on, you said these are gifts for our honeymoon?” I say.

My mother and aunts exchange sly glances with each other.

“I don’t... understand. Nathan and I are going to Europe for our honeymoon next month, remember?” A sense of trepidation is rising inside me.

“Oh yes, of course, and then...” Ma says, reaching inside her bag and whipping out a piece of paper. “Then you coming to Jakarta! Just in time for Chinese New Year!”

“Yes, and all your cousins will be there!” Second Aunt says. “We tell them they were such awful boys to miss your wedding, they better come to Jakarta for Chinese New Year, or else.” She narrows her eyes menacingly, and I cringe inwardly at the trouble I’ve landed my poor cousins in. I’d thought that giving them a pass on this wedding was a favor, but it looks like it ended up being a double-edged sword.

“Look, we got tickets for you two already!”

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